Five depressing beach reads

A post-apocalyptic Australian story revolving around nuclear fallout, euthanasia, and a fuel crisis in which the one bright beam of civilized hope is Seattle? Yes please. Who needs a description of Maui this summer? Not I, not when there’s an end-of-the-world Pearl Harbor portrayal inspired by then-recent events. Also, no one laughs in this book ever. For other emotionally overcast beach scenes, see also: Cormac McCarthy’s The Road or any novel in which the north of France places a key role. Juicy!